Rossam's Raising
written by Rossam Noristan

The First Arch
Rossam stepped into the blinding light and it consumed him . . .

"Rossam!" Master Talwim bellowed.
"Rossam!" Came the echo a moment later.
Rossam hurried into the old study, hot bowl of lamb stew in hand and a worried look on his face. His old mentor had been ill for some time now, chest pains the main source of it. There were too few Aes Sedai in Mayene at the moment, and none had been able to come to the house to see him. However, over the last few weeks, Master Talwim had seemed to improve and Enelle had finally decided he was fit enough to leave his house. So, he had made the short trip across the town, and now he sat in the old, stuffed armchair, warm and comfy, that Rossam kept for company.

"Now, Rossam, let's take a look at this text. I knew we'd have to decipher it a little, but I believe we have - " The old Mayener cut off with a cry as he fell to the floor, clutching at his chest. Face white as a sheet, Rossam dropped to the floor next to him.

"Oh Light! Master Talwim! Master Talwim!" He screamed as he checked the man's pulse. The old philosopher only croaked in response. Rossam looked around, desperate for something to use. As he did, he noticed something glowing in the corner of the room. A silver archway lit up the dingy old corner of the study. Rossam stood and, without being aware of what he was doing, moved towards it, almost disembodied. He knew he had to go or he would lose something precious to him, but from behind he knew Master Talwim needed help. As he stepped through the light, he could hear the weak croak of his teacher, "Rossam. Save me . . . "

The Second Arch
Rossam stepped into the light for a second time . . .

He could feel the press of the steel knife pushing into his neck and the raspy breathing of the man standing behind him. Nagim, the huge Shienaran Gray Asha'man, was breathing loudly into his scalp, making low noises. Sweat covered Rossam's brow, as not only did the man have him covered with his dagger, but he also had him shielded. Stronger than Rossam, though not by much, he had no trouble holding the shield. In fact, at this point the young White was worried for his life.

Struggling to speak, Rossam managed to squeeze the words out. "How long will this go on for Nagim? You've already been discovered as Black ajah, and they are coming for you even now. You won't survive - " "Shut up, fool," came the harsh reply. "It matters not. Because, one way or the other, I intend to kill you, whether they discover me or not. I will kill you because I feel like it," he sneered.

At that moment, the doors at the far end burst open, two Warders sprinting through them, swords bared. He knew the two, Galim and Varl, Warders of the Green sister Magara Noviman. As the doors burst, a wave of Fire bust from the ground in front of them, encompassing the two Warders in a wall of flame. From down the corridor came the shrieks of Magara, as her Warders died.

However, what Nagim hadn't counted on was the door behind him. It crashed open, the door spiralling into Nagim as Alix sprinted through. The fellow White, although many thought he should have been Green, crashed into Nagim, knocking him to the ground. The shield on Rossam dropped, and as he turned to help Alix, of equal strength with Nagim, he noticed the Silver Arch. Realising he had to leave his White ajah friend, realising he was the reason Alix would die. He stepped through the arch, Alix's cried and pleas following him . . .

The Third Arch
Rossam entered the Arch for the final time, and light enveloped him . . .

As the earth heaved and tremored, Rossam battled his way through the halls of the Grey Tower. The Seanchan had entered the Tower some three hours earlier, after weeks of battle, and had started collaring all the women they found. Of course, the Tower had fought back, and already Rossam had killed at least three Seanchan damane. Unfortunately, it seemed a never-ending stream was coming, and he was having trouble staying alive.

Two Senachan soldiers ran at him from an adjoining corridor, swords bared and as they approached Rossam barely had time to embrace the Power before they arrived. he sent two balls of fire hurtling into their faces. This conti nued as he made his way down corridor after corridor, killing because he had to, burning flesh for his own life.

He made his way tiredly into an old hall, staring about, dust and sweat covering his brow. From the far end he could see someone hacking unforgivingly at a half dead corpse. Running up, he embraced Air and threw the Seanchan soldier to the other side of the room, into a wall. He stopped at the body and found Varaine. The pretty Yellow was a friend of his from his Dedicated years, when she was Accepted. He embraced the Source. Healing was not a strong point of his, but he could do something to keep her alive. As he prepared the weaves, he noticed above him a silver doorway. For the third time, he knew what he must do.

Standing, and leaving Varaine, he walked towards the Arch. As he stepped through, all he heard were the screams of her death, and he hated it . . .

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